Less Opportunities To Specialize?

[ModernChemistry]

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I am waiting until med school to explore the various specialties and see what I am interested in, but I currenly hold some interest in neuro/psych. I am wondering if going to a school in a rural area, such as WVSOM, would hinder me at all from a specialization like neuro or psych. I have looked at match lists and residencies aren't very common in these areas, but does that mean that they are not possible/easy to choose, or is it just that most people in rural areas would rather be in family medicine?

I know that even though schools in rural areas usually like people to go into family medicine, they don't discourage specializing. Is it much more difficult though, and would it lessen my opportunities to enter a field that I think I will probably be interested in?

 

[DrMom]

Your specialty opportunities are a product of your work, not your school.

(with the exception of wanting to do MD neurosurgery, plastics, derm, and the other very highly competitive residencies from a DO school)

 

[slim78]

You will have no problem matching psych if that is what you want to do. That goes for any specialty if you work hard enough (no matter where you go to school). Psych, however, is not typically listed among the more difficult to specialize in.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

You will have no problem matching psych if that is what you want to do. That goes for any specialty if you work hard enough (no matter where you go to school). Psych, however, is not typically listed among the more difficult to specialize in.

OP, neither is Neuro. 🙂

 

[singinfifi]

OP, neither is Neuro. 🙂

Something which I couldn't be happier about! 🙂

(it's what I'm interested in)

 

[nevinleiby]

Something which I couldn't be happier about! 🙂

(it's what I'm interested in)

Really? Neuro (surgery?) isn't as difficult to pursue? Is that because of the malpractice and the time requirement??

I also hear that orthopedic surgery isn't as hard from DO as the traditional MD route. That jives with my logic with the anatomy focus of osteopathy. Doesn't it have to do with the number of DO orthopedic surgeons or something?


(disclaimer: I have NO idea what residency yet...I know that I'll end up changing my mind at least 10x before I decide =)

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Really? Neuro (surgery?) isn't as difficult to pursue? Is that because of the malpractice and the time requirement??

Sorry. Neurology. 🙂

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Really? Neuro (surgery?) isn't as difficult to pursue? Is that because of the malpractice and the time requirement??

I also hear that orthopedic surgery isn't as hard from DO as the traditional MD route. That jives with my logic with the anatomy focus of osteopathy. Doesn't it have to do with the number of DO orthopedic surgeons or something?


(disclaimer: I have NO idea what residency yet...I know that I'll end up changing my mind at least 10x before I decide =)

Yeah, it is true that a fairly good number of DOs specialize in orthopedic surgery. From what I can tell, this may be because there are a good number of AOA orthopedic surgery residency slots...but somebody else should confirm that estimation.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Neuro/Psych as a DO is perfectly fine, AOA or ACGME. Like others said, the only things you may have to count out as a DO is ACGME plastics, derm etc ... but they have those on the AOA side, so if you want them ... just be a baller either way.

 

[rddoms]

A few DO's have done ACGME plastics via the fellowship route, but I wonder when we will see a DO complete an integrated/combined program. That would be good. Also, does anyone think that the AOA plastics residencies will ever follow the integrated model?

 

[JaggerPlate]

A few DO's have done ACGME plastics via the fellowship route, but I wonder when we will see a DO complete an integrated/combined program. That would be good. Also, does anyone think that the AOA plastics residencies will ever follow the integrated model?

I'm pretty sure that after you're in ACGME g-surg, you really aren't that much of a different applicant for fellowship programs (I could be really wrong, thats just what I've heard). I don't see why AOA couldn't turn some of their fellowship programs at schools, like PCOM that have g-surg residencies and plastic fellowships, into integrated programs. I think it would just be great to get the number of plastics opportunities up for AOA in general!

 

[rddoms]

I completely agree. There are only 6 AOA fellowships, and that number should increase. The ENT residencies have plastics components, but those are all head and neck. DO's need to have more opportunities in general plastics (burns, hand, microsurg, breast reconst., etc.).

 

[JaggerPlate]

I completely agree. There are only 6 AOA fellowships, and that number should increase. The ENT residencies have plastics components, but those are all head and neck. DO's need to have more opportunities in general plastics (burns, hand, microsurg, breast reconst., etc.).

Yeah, I think for otolarynology there are like ... 19 (?) residencies, but it's my understanding that it has a facial plastic component, but I think you'd probably want to do a facial plastics or reconstruction fellowship after to go into straight facial plastic/reconstructive surg.

 

[Dissected]

I'm pretty sure that after you're in ACGME g-surg, you really aren't that much of a different applicant for fellowship programs (I could be really wrong, thats just what I've heard).

Ive heard this same thing from a practicing general surgeon (DO).